Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program

Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. FRPP provides funds to purchase conservation easements from landowners and to keep productive farm and ranch land in agricultural uses. The land must contain at least 50 percent prime, unique, statewide or locally important soils, have a conservation plan for highly erodible land, and contain sufficient acreage to sustain agriculture production. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the fair market easement value of the conservation easement. For more information go to www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/frpp

NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program

NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) program that offers financial and technical help to farmers and ranchers to install stream and soil erosion control measures, planting along streams, rivers and wetlands, fencing and more. For more information visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/PROGRAMS/EQIP.

Wetlands Reserve Program

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a NRCS program that provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners and Tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring eligible land from agriculture. The program offers three enrollment options, including Permanent Easement, 30-Year Easement and Restoration Cost-Share Agreement. For more information go to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/easements/wetlands/.

NRCS Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

NRCS Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a conservation cost-share program that provides funding for fish and wildlife habitat restoration. Special emphasis is placed on instream fisheries habitat, native prairies, woody draws, and wetlands throughout Montana. For more information go to http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip/.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act

North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant that provides matching grants to organizations and individuals to carry out wetlands conservation projects for the benefit of wetland-associated migratory birds, other wildlife, and clean water. For more information visit www.fws.gov/birds/grants/north-american-wetland-conservation-act.php.